Comparing the effectiveness of schema therapy and CBT on improving early maladaptive schemas in patients with anorexia nervosa considering the parental bonding

The present study was aimed at comparing the effectiveness of schema therapy and CBT on eating disorder symptoms in patients with anorexia nervosa considering the parental bonding. The study had an experimental method with pretest-posttest design and follow-up with the control group. The study population included all patients aged 16 to 23 years with eating disorders who had referred to psychiatry, psychotherapy, and clinical treatment centers of obesity and weight loss in Tehran. Purposive sampling was used in this study. Since this study was concerned with patients that had a poor parental bonding, 21 patients were diagnosed to have anorexia nervosa by performing psychological screening. Finally, the selected patients were matched in two experimental groups and one control group. Data were collected through questionnaires and diagnostic interviews based on diagnostic criteria for eating disorders and psychiatric diagnosis. Three questionnaires were used in the study including: 1. Parental Bonding Questionnaire 2. Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI) 3. Young Schema Questionnaire. Only schema therapy was effective in reducing symptoms of eating disorders. Also, treatment had a higher efficacy on being more supported than less cared. The findings of this study can be an approval of therapists having a systematic view to the etiology of this disorder.